Disc storage device

ABSTRACT

A disc storage device comprises a base, and a cover comprising at least a first flap and a second flap. The base has an upwardly facing disc receiving portion configured to receive a disc. The first flap is affixed to the base and overlays at least part of the disc receiving portion and the second flap being affixed to the base and overlays at least part of the first flap, the flaps being movable in opening directions to uncover the disc receiving portion for enabling the disc to be mounted to or removed from the disc receiving portion. The second flap has a higher rigidity than the first flap to maintain the first flap overlaying the disc receiving portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disc storage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disc storage devices are well known and come in a wide variety ofconfigurations. The present invention endeavors to develop a low-costpractical alternative to existing disc storage devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a disc storage devicecomprising a base, and a cover comprising at least a first flap and asecond flap. The base has an upwardly facing disc receiving portionconfigured to receive a disc. The first flap is affixed to the base andoverlays at least part of the disc receiving portion and the second flapis affixed to the base and overlays at least part of the first flap. Theflaps are movable in opening directions to uncover the disc receivingportion for enabling the disc to be mounted to or removed from the discreceiving portion. The second flap has a higher rigidity than the firstflap to maintain the first flap overlaying the disc receiving portion.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, theaccompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disc storage device with the coveropened, taken from the top thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disc storage device of FIG. 1 withthe cover closed, also taken from the top thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disc storage device of FIG. 1 takenfrom the bottom thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an example of a disc storage device, generallyindicated at 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention.The device 10 is designed for storing recording discs, such as opticaldiscs, including but not limited to CDs, DVDs, laser discs, etc. Suchdiscs are well-known and have a circular body with a spindle receivinghole in the center, a recording surface on one side, and a non-recordingsurface on the other (and may have two recording surfaces on theopposing sides).

The device 10 comprises a base 12, and a cover 14. The base 12 has anupwardly facing disc receiving portion 16 configured to receive a disc.The disc receiving portion 16 is of a typical construction and isgenerally circular and recessed in the base 12. The circular recess isshaped to have approximately the same shape as the disc to be received,which will typically be of a standard size. However, if discs areavailable in other sizes, the disc receiving portion 16 may be alteredto accommodate such discs. The disc receiving portion 16 also has a setof resilient fingers 17 in a center thereof for releasably engaging thespindle hole in the center of a disc. These fingers 17 are standard andneed not be described in detail.

As an optional feature, the disc receiving portion 16 may have at leastone finger recess 18 at an edge thereof of enabling a user to contact anedge of a disc received therein. In the illustrated embodiment, thereare four such recesses 18, spaced at about 90 degrees apart and at thecorners of the base 12. The number and configuration of such recesses 18may vary, and the illustrated embodiment is not intended to be limiting.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base 12 has a generally rectangularconfiguration. The base 12 has a pair of opposing edge portions 20, 22that will be discussed in further detail below. A pair of opposing walls24, 26 also extends generally perpendicularly between the edge portions20, 22. However, the base 12 may have any other shape or configuration,and is not limited to the one illustrated.

The base 12 may be formed of molded plastic, or made from any othersuitable material by any other suitable manufacturing method.

Holes 42 are provided on the edge portion of the base 12 for mountingthe device to a ring binder or the like. These holes, or any otherattachment device, are entirely optional.

The cover 14 comprises at least a first flap 28 and a second flap 30.The first flap 28 is affixed to the base 12 and overlays at least partof the disc receiving portion 16 and the second flap 30 is affixed tothe base 12 and overlays at least part of the first flap 28.

Specifically, the first flap 28 has its edge portion affixed to the edgeportion 20 of the base 12. This edge portion 20 has a relatively wide,flat surface for allowing the edge portion of the flap 28 to be affixedthereto. The first flap 28 is preferably shaped to cover the entire discreceiving portion 16. As illustrated, it has an opposite free edge 32that is positioned against the inner edge of the opposite edge portion22 of the base 12, and parallel side edges 34, 36 that are positionedalong the inner edge of the walls 24, 26. This provides for completecoverage of the disc receiving portion 16. However, the first flap 28may have a different configuration and need not provide 100% coverage ofthe disc receiving portion 16 by itself to perform its basic function ofcovering the disc receiving portion 16 and the disc therein.

The first flap 28 is preferably, but not necessarily formed of twolayers or sheets with an opening at the free end, along the sides, or atthe attached end. The sheets or layers are bonded or otherwise securedto one another along the remaining edges so that a pocket is formed.This pocket can receive a graphics card, such as the graphics insertthat often comes with a CD and includes the artist, album title, etc.Preferably, the top layer, and possibly both layers or sheets, is/aretransparent so that the graphics card can be seen. The opening allowsinsertion and removal of the graphics card. Preferably, the openingextends essentially the entire width of its respective edge, and thepocket occupies the essentially the entire extent of the flap 28.

The second flap 30 has its edge portion affixed to the edge portion 22of the base 12. This edge portion 22 also has a relatively wide surfacefor allowing the edge portion of the flap 30 to be affixed thereto. Asillustrated, the second flap 30 is a single layer and has an oppositefree edge 38, shown as having a semi-circular configuration. This secondflap 30 has a much shorter length than the first flap 28, as measured inthe direction between edge portions 20, 22. Thus, the second flapoverlays the first flap 29 only partially. Preferably but notnecessarily, the second flap 30 extends for about 20 to 30% of thelength of the flap 28. However, the second flap 30 may have a largersize, such as the same shape as flap 28, such that it extends entirelyover the first flap 28. Also, if the first flap 28 were shorter, thenthe second flap 30 may also cover some part of the disc receivingportion 16 and the disc therein.

As preferable option, the second flap 30 is also transparent so that agraphics card in the pocket of the first flap 28 can be seen.

The flaps 28, 30 are movable in opening directions, as shown in FIG. 1,to uncover the disc receiving portion 16 for enabling the disc to bemounted to or removed from the disc receiving portion 16. The secondflap 30 has a higher rigidity than the first flap 28 to maintain thefirst flap 28 overlaying the disc receiving portion. Specifically, thesecond flap 30 has sufficient rigidity such that, when opened, itnaturally returns in a resilient fashion to its flat configurationoverlying the first flap 30. This assists in maintaining the cover 14 ina closed condition, but provides for a very easy to open construction.

The first and second flaps 28, 30 may be made from the same material,and the second flap 30 may have the higher rigidity by having a higherthickness than the first flap 28. By way of example, the material of thefirst and second flaps 28, 30 may be acetate, vinyl, polypropylene orpolyethylene, and preferably of the transparent type. Also, the firstand second flaps 28, 30 may be made from different materials, and thesecond flap 30 may be provided with the higher rigidity by being made ofa more rigid material. By way of example, in such an embodiment, thefirst flap 28 may be made of acetate, and the second flap 30 may be madeof vinyl. Also, the thickness of the second flap may be in the range of0.25-0.35 mm, and where the first flap 28 is made of two layers isindividual layers may be in the range of 0.12 to 0.15 mm.

Any suitable method of affixing the flaps 28, 30 to the edge portions20, 22 may be used. For example, any one of the following, or acombination thereof, may be used: (a) a mechanical fastener, (b) heatwelding, and (c) an adhesive. For mechanical fastener, rivets, stakes,or other fasteners extending through the edge portions of the flaps 28,30 and edge portions 20, 22 may be used. For heat welding, the plasticsmaterial of the flaps 28, 30 may be heated to fuse with the plasticsmaterial of the base's edge portions 20, 22. For an adhesive, anysuitable adhesive may be used to adhere the flap's edge portions to theupper surfaces of edge portions 20, 22.

The particular shape, configuration, and materials for the cover 14 isprovided only as an example and is not intended to be limiting. Incontrast, other covers with different shapes, configurations and/ormaterials than those described may be used.

As an option, the walls 24, 26 may be provided with notches or recesses40. These notches or recesses 40 allow the user to insert the tip of hisor her finger underneath the flaps for making lifting of them easier.These notches/recesses 40 are illustrated as being at the edge of thefirst flap 28, so that lifting the first flap 28 can present the edge 38of the second flap for easier grasping. As can be seen in the Figures,one of the notches/recesses also extends into the bottom wall of thebase 12 for enhancing the user's ability to engage underneath the firstflap 28. There could be only one of these notches, or many, and theconfiguration or arrangement shown should not be regarded as limiting.

The foregoing detailed description has been provided solely forillustrating the structural and functional principles of the presentinvention, and is not intended to be limiting. To the contrary, thepresent invention is intended to encompass all modifications,substitutions, alterations, and equivalents within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

1. A disc storage device, comprising: a base having an upwardly facingdisc receiving portion configured to receive a disc; a cover comprisingat least a first flap and a second flap; the first flap being affixed tothe base and overlaying at least part of the disc receiving portion andthe second flap being affixed to the base and overlaying at least partof the first flap, the flaps being movable in opening directions touncover the disc receiving portion for enabling the disc to be mountedto or removed from the disc receiving portion; wherein the second flaphas a higher rigidity than the first flap to maintain the first flapoverlaying the disc receiving portion.
 2. A disc storage deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first and second flaps are made fromthe same material, and wherein the second flap has the higher rigidityby having a higher thickness than the first flap.
 3. A disc storagedevice according to claim 1, wherein the first and second flaps are madefrom different materials, and the second flap has the higher rigidity bybeing made of a more rigid material.
 4. A disc storage device accordingto claim 1, wherein the disc receiving portion has a set of resilientfingers in a center thereof for releasably engaging a spindle hole incenter of a disc.
 5. A disc storage device according to claim 1, whereinthe disc receiving portion is generally circular and recessed in thebase.
 6. A disc storage device according to claim 5, wherein the discreceiving portion has at least one finger recess at an edge thereof ofenabling a user to contact an edge of a disc received therein.
 7. A discstorage device according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed ofmolded plastic.
 8. A disc storage device according to claim 1, whereinthe base has at least two opposing edge portions, wherein the first flapis affixed to a first of the opposing edge portions, and wherein thesecond flap is affixed to a second of the opposing edge portions.
 9. Adisc storage device according to claim 8, wherein the flaps are affixedto the respective opposing edge portions by an attachment selected fromthe group consisting of: (a) a mechanical fastener, (b) heat welding,and (c) an adhesive.
 10. A disc storage device according to claim 1,wherein the base has side walls on opposing sides thereof, and includesat least one recess in at least one of the peripheral walls, the atleast one recess being at an edge of at least one of the flaps forenabling a user to engage underneath the flap.